n the woman fear of
what she read in my eyes. I have reason to believe that she would have
mastered this fear, but at that instant Miss Caroline coughed rather
alarmingly.

"You should do something for that right away," I said, as we struck
ourselves apart. "You let a cough like that run along and you don't know
what it may end in." Whereupon, having kissed no one on this occasion, I
now kissed Miss Caroline,--without difficulty, I may add.

"I've been meaning to do it for a year," I explained.

"I must remind you that they were far less deliberate in _my_ day," said
she, with a delicate hint of reminiscence in her tone. Whereupon she
looked searchingly at each of us in turn. Then, with a little gasp, she
wept daintily upon my love's shoulder.

I had long suspected that tears were a mere aesthetic refreshment with
Miss Caroline. I had never known her weaken to them when there seemed to
be far better reasons for it than the present occasion furnished.

"I must take her home," said my love, without speaking.

"_Do!_" I urged, likewise in silence, but understandably.

"And I must be alone," she called, as they stepped out on to the lawn.

"So must I." It had not occurred to me; but I could see thoughts with
which my mind needed at once to busy itself. I watched them go slowly
into the dusk. I thought Miss Caroline seemed to be recovering.

When they had gone, I stepped out to look up at the strange new stars.
The measure of my dream was full and running over. To stand there and
breathe full and laugh aloud--that was my prayer of gratitude; nor did I
lack the presence of mind to hope that, in ascending, it might in some
way advantage the soul of J. Rodney Potts, that humble tool with which
the gods had wrought such wonders.

It was no longer a dream, no vision brief as a summer's night, when the
light fades late to come again too soon. Before, in that dreaming time,
I saw that I had drawn water like the Danaides, in a pitcher full of
holes. But now--I wondered how long she would find it good to be alone.
I felt that I had been alone long enough, and that seven minutes, or
possibly eight, might suffice even her.

She came almost with the thought, though I believe she did not hurry
after she saw that I observed her.

"I had to be alone a long time, to think well about it--to think it all
out," she said simply.

I thought it unnecessary to state the precise number of minutes this had
required. Instead I showed h